Sweet Diamond Dust: And Other Stories

by Rosario Ferré

Rosario Ferre uses family history as a metaphor for the class struggles and political evolution of Latin America and Puerto Rico in this highly provacative, profound, and delightfully readable collection of stories.

Originally published in Spanish under the title Maldito Amor ("Cursed Love"), Sweet Diamond Dust introduced American readers to a voice that is by turns lyrical and wickedly satiric. In this tale the De La Valle family's secrets, ambitions, and passions, interwoven with the fate of the local sugar mill, are recounted by various relatives, friends, and servants. As the characters struggle under the burden of privilege, the story, permeated with haunting echoes of Puerto Rico's own turbulent history, becomes a splendid allegory for a nation's past.

The three accompanying stories each follow the lives of the descendants of the De La Valle family, making the book a drama in four parts, raising troubling issues of race, religion, freedom, and sex, with Ferre's trademark irony and startling imagery.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Womens, Historical Fiction, Collections

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 1988

About the author

Rosario Ferré was born in Puerto Rico, where her father served as governor. She was best known for her novels and short stories. In 1992, Ferré was awarded the Liberatur Prix award at the Frankfurt Book Fair for the German translation of her novel Sweet Diamond Dust. She was a finalist for the National Book Award for her novel The House on the Lagoon in 1995.

Reviews

[Duana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably would have loved it more if I had known more history regarding Puerto Rico. Using members of one family to explain the betrayal of an entire country by the "Metropolis" is particularly poignant. The original title is still what sticks with me. Maldito Amor (Cursed Love)is the theme not only for the characters in the stories but for the country in general. I particularly liked the second story, The Gift, but it is the final one that brings the crescendo and the understanding of how all are linked.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in tandem with the Spanish language original. As with other works of Ferre that she's self-translated, I felt that I got the most out of the works by reading both, by examining the changes made from one to the other. It's a veritable gold-mine for academic geeks like myself interested in the theories of translation.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella and collection of 3 additional short stories uses one family as an allegory for Puerto Rico. The themes of colonialism, race, class, and sexism are portrayed through multigenerational family drama in a sugar plantation business threatened by a conglomerate of Americans. The author’s signature style, telling the story from several different perspectives, was most prominent in the title story. This style made it confusing, as it switched perspective and narrator without warning, but it was worth the effort. I learned more about the history of the island and the roles Spain and USA played in messing up their politics and economy.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read..not wonderful, but entertaining.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Sweet Diamond Dust a lot more than I thought I would, based on the other GR reviews. It is a solid 3.5 stars. It is very much in the multi-cultural lit camp that I was familiar with from reading authors like Sandra Cisneros (one of my favorites). Somehow Ferré lacks the same punch.

Still, for my purposes, this book was perfectly timed. The book came to me in a dusty secondhand bookshop in Rincón, Puerto Rico, and at the same time, I was focused on completing a Read Around the World challenge. Therefore, I really appreciated how much history Ferré weaves into her stories. Her work is also very aware of its connection to Puerto Rico's cultural, political, socio-economic, class, and religious orientation, particularly in contrast to the United States (referred as the Metropolis in the final story, Captain Candelario's Heroic Last Stand).

In this way, it was very educational for me.... I have scant knowledge of Puerto Rico and its literary traditions.

The downsides of the novel + short story collection are small - the stylistic choice in Sweet Diamond Dust to switch narrators and not announce them overtly was a little confusing at times. I was able to suss it out by references and clues, but it felt like work at times. A family tree and a map of Guanamí might have helped. I'm not sure why it's better to keep the reader guessing or off-kilter or unsure of who is narrating which inter-chapter. It might have been in fashion to do so in the mid-80s. Who knows.

I'm also not crazy about how Isolda's Mirror and Captain Candelario Heroic Last Stand ended so abruptly. If I were really motivated, I might want to make some guesses as to the author's intent. But, because these short stories feel so familiar, and maybe not as powerful as others I've read, I have to admit I can't be bothered.

[Kate Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the first story for school, but it was really interesting, and an insightful look into Puerto Rico and family dynamics. Hard to rate because I don't know if I liked it on a surface level, but I also really enjoyed delving into the story and metaphors.

I support Gloria's rights and her wrongs.

[Christen Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing! The only thing I can say is that it can sometimes be a little complex to read if you aren’t focus. The stories touch so many subjects and it moves very quickly but over all beautiful. Will definitely re read.

[Rosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collection of stories. The first story (title) was Ferre’s usual excellent prose. The other stories were not to my liking. Rich people, poor, black, mixed....

[Haley Bee Bird]

*only read the first story for school*

[Naz Hassan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably 'The Great Gatsby' of Puerto Rico. The cover story is rather convoluted as if the author didn't really think through the plot.
My professor tells me it's vague on purpose. If so, the wonderful prose does make up for the interconnected and underwhelming plot.

The other two stories are much better. Again, this book is reminiscent of 'The Great Gatsby'. She is one of the first writers to discuss the subject of race in Puerto Rico and also cement a bygone era into literature again.

If you aren't from the caribbean, or have no interest in such things, don't waste your time.

[Sydnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story in the book is entitled "Sweet Diamond Dust." It is a little shocking at some points, and confusing due to so many names and different narrators at times, but overall, I enjoyed it. The other 3 stories in the book I enjoyed much more. "The Gift" was very interesting, and I liked how Ferre talked about Carnival. I enjoyed this book overall and would read it again!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Kit]

[ Read for English course ]

I read the Sweet Diamond Dust novella which was 85 pages.

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the style that interests me...